Startup Weekend Detroit 4 Announced!
Startup Weekend returns to Detroit for Startup Weekend Detroit 4 on February 17th. Join hackers, hustlers and future Zuckerbergs from all over Michigan as they work to develop, build and pitch new companies in a single weekend.
This event will be hosted at The M@dison Building, the new home of Detroit Venture Partners.
Startup Weekend Detroit – Final Results
What a weekend. 29 business pitches. Nine project teams. An entire weekend of work. A ton of blood and sweat.
Each team had their five minutes… and we picked a winner.
First off, special thanks to our panel of judges for donating their weekend evening to help us pick a winning team. We could not have done it without their insight.
- Dan Izzo – Bizdom U
- Maria Lalonde – Bizdom U
- Steve Robert – Billhighway
- Mike Teshuba – Mango Languages
- Amanda Chocko – Momentum
- Jack Miner – TechTown
Additionally, we would like to thank the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan for providing the $5,000 for the winning team. The prize money was a gift that was completely unexpected and is a representative example of the organization’s commitment to growing the region’s entrepreneurial community.
On to the results!
Detroit App Factory took home the 1st place prize for Startup Weekend Detroit – Fall 2010 and $5,000 to put towards their project. The new formed company plans to create a Mobile Application Development Center. They created a live demo of a “social, build, attack, and defend” game with animated animals to play on a mobile phone – making sure that they game is “easy to pick up and possible to put down.” The game can also be re-skinned, which makes it more marketable, long-term.
Second place went to Piggy Car, the people-to-people shipping solution. Third place went to Bite to Meet, a specialized social networking site for going out to eat.
You can read more about each project team by clicking this link.
Besides the three top slots, there are two bragging rights awards:
“Best Product Demo” – Detroit App Factory
“First Company Most Likely to Make a Million Dollars” – Piggy Car.
Overall, it was a great weekend for everyone. New friendships and partnerships were formed, projects were launched, and we brought energy and excitement to Detroit.
The real moral of the story: Even if your idea didn’t win, even if your idea was turned down on Friday night, and even if you have an idea that is just swirling around in your head, DON’T sit on it. Go back to your project, work on it, and take it somewhere. That’s what this weekend is all about. That’s what entrepreneurship is all about. Make it happen.
Currently, there are plans to host the next Startup Weekend Detroit sometime next spring. In the mean time, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids are currently coordinating Startup Weekend events that will take place early next year.
If you would like to get involved with Startup Weekend Detroit, please contact me at brandonchesnutt@gmail.com
Special thanks to the Detroit Regional News Hub for streaming our final project pitches.
Startup Weekend Detroit – Final Groups and Pitches
This post was contributed by Christie Piper and Girls in Tech – Detroit.
WATCH THE STARTUP WEEKEND DETROIT FINAL PROJECT PITCHES LIVE ON USTREAM STARTING AT 6PM (brought to you by The Detroit Regional News Hub)
With less than two hours left until Startup Weekend Detroit’s pitches, the groups are more focused and simplified, and the ideas have become more concrete than they were on Saturday morning. All of the groups are busy coding pages, designing logos, researching markets, building business plans, and figuring out everything else that they need to get organized before their pitch.
We’ve moved into nine different groups, ranging from 3 to 10 people, with people coming from all different backgrounds. Check out what everyone’s working on and how it’s changed throughout the weekend:
Now presenting… Our nine teams:
“Grootiv – Social Solution to Boredom”
Grootiv is based off a website and phone app, and it’s a way to link you and all your networks together. You might have 500 friends and nothing to do on a Friday night. Grootiv solves the problem. It’s a simple platform – you log-on, update what you’re doing or would like to do, and find others through sharing.
“The Answer Company”
The Answer Company is a real-time crowd-sourcing resolution. It’s website and phone app-based, and it’s able to connect you to people who can solve your problem. So if you have a question for a doctor or plumber, the website can put you in contact with someone who is willing and able to answer you. The group itself is small, but they are direct in what they want to do, and it’s worked out so far.
“Bite to Meet”
Bite to Meet is an online place to meet others so that you can meet up for lunch or dinner to network. They are focused on one-on-one lunch meetings, but if users wanted to meet multiple people, they could, too. Right now, it’s based off of Facebook and LinkedIn. When using the program, you can log-in wherever you are, whether it’s at home or while you’re on a business trip, and find people in the area.
“Where’s My Junk?”
Where’s My Junk is GPS tracking system for all the things you tend to lose – your phone, your wallet, your purse, what-have-you. It’s a microchip that you can put on anything, and from your computer or phone app, you’re able to track where that item is via GPS. This is another small but distinct group, and they’ve kept their same concept throughout.
“The Woodward ReDevelopment Project”
The Wordward ReDevelopment Project is a non-profit that aims at bringing retail business to the city of Detroit – specifically, the 3 blocks on the south end of Woodward. To try to attract new vendors, they will sponsor events and different activities, like an art gallery or open mic night to bring people into the city. Right now, they’re working on the business implementation and the big picture.
“Detroit App Factor”
This group is putting together an iphone app that’s an all-ages defense game. All the characters are animals, and during the game, you build up your castle and community with defenses. The game is free, but users are able to purchase add-ons. Right now, the group is looking at how other apps work and profit (since there are so many apps to choose from,).
“Integrated Biometric Information Security (IBIS)”
IBIS is a company’s low-cost alternative to having multiple passwords for different programs. It takes your fingerprint using a scanning device, but the software doesn’t keep it on file. Instead, it creates an encryption key and matches it up. It’s a simple and easy way to keep track of multiple passwords in a secure way, without having to write them down. The concept itself hasn’t changed much since the idea was first pitched, but it’s become more focused than it was.
“Plan Mash”
Plan Mash is “people powered planning,” and it’s an online forum for people to list and check out all the events in the area, get recommendations for what to do, see what others are doing and create an itinerary. The idea evolved a few times to make sure that the website is different than just a recommendation site. It’s unique because you can plan your own adventure, per se. Right now, they’re working on their actual presentation – Twitter and Facebook? Check!
“Piggy Car”
Piggy Car is a people-to-people shipping company. Have a futon that needs to go from Warren to Ann Arbor? Using Piggy Car, you can find someone who is traveling that route and pay that person to transport your futon. It’s Twitter-based using #piggycar, but it’s streamed to their website, as well. All the payment is done through the website, where it recommends how much to pay the transporter. Twitter is the newest change that the group came up with from Donald – Startup Weekend advisor – and it seems to have solidified what they’re trying to do.
Be sure to tune in at 6PM to watch the team present their final products for a chance to win $5,000!
Startup Weekend Detroit – Day 2 Recap
This post was contributed by Jenna Thompson and Girls in Tech – Detroit.
Its Day 2 at Startup Weekend Detroit and all of the teams have been hard at work since bright and early this morning.
Saturday opened with a presentation from Jon Baugh, CEO and Founder of Dermanaut. A local startup that is growing thanks to the support of TechTown and Bizdom U, Dermanaut provides electronic medical records and associated services to dermatologists. Having experienced the amazing ups and the heart-breaking downs of entrepreneurship, Jon shared some fantastic lessons and war stories with Startup Weekend Detroit attendees.
Following Jon’s presentation, TechTown Executive Director Randal Charlton shared a few words with the crowd. A serial entrepreneur, Randal offered a few words of wisdom and commented and on the “unbelievable amount of energy” currently resonating from TechTown. You can read Randal’s thoughts on his Startup Weekend Detroit visit on his blog.
Following the morning presentations, each team returned to their own spaces throughout the Techtown building in an attempt to bring their ideas to life.
During lunch, Momentum Program Director Amanda Chocko discussed how the organization works with startups to provide a number of critical services, including product development, mentors and housing. Currently entering their third round of funding, Momentum looks for great startup companies that possess strong teams that feature of a mix of technical and non-technical personnel.
Momentum Video from Brian Kelly Films on Vimeo.
I also had the chance to spend some time talking with individual team members and got a feel for what brought them to Startup Weekend Detroit. Project Lead Charlie Wollborg and his team are working on an app that will incorporate several different types of iPad games all into one insanely awesome app. Charlie decided to join the festivities of Startup Weekend out of a love for the city of Detroit and in hopes to create a startup that would transform Detroit’s image of “Motor Town” into “Mobile Town”.
In addition to talking with Charlie, I also spent some time discussing “Planmash.com” with Project Lead Andre Grayand, who is one of the many Quicken Loans employees participating in the event. Andre expressed that Startup Weekend was the perfect venue for him to discuss all of his seemingly crazy ideas for startups. It was also a great opportunity to network with other tech enthusiasts.
Many of the Startup Weekend Detroit participants I chatted with echoed Andre’s comments. Having the opportunity to work on a team and network with like-minded individuals representing all different industry specialties has proven to be a big bonus.
All of the positive energy and progress hasn’t come without setbacks though. Anthony Blocton’s team “Ibis Group” expressed that by choosing to focus on biometric security, they have had trouble finding reliable data. However, this team is not quick to throw in the towel. Rather than having a team pity party and focusing on the negatives, Anthony’s team is focusing on the potential good that could come out of their startup.
Just like any other company, these Startup Weekend Groups will experience a flurry of emotions within these 54 hours. Through the good, the bad and the ugly, many of the teams here look forward to carrying the momentum of Startup Weekend past Sunday night, regardless if they win the coveted $5,000 prize.
As teams continue shaping and molding their ideas, stay tuned for more updates on teams and team members. Additionally, the final project pitches will be streamed live thanks to the Detroit Regional News Hub. Judging begins Sunday evening at 6 PM EST.
Startup Weekend Detroit – Day 1 Recap
This post was contributed by Jenna Thompson and Girls in Tech – Detroit.
Let the games begin! There is an immense amount of energy in the air here on night one of Startup Weekend Detroit, inside TechTown, downtown Detroit. 70 participants poured into the Techtown building tonight with hopes to share their ideas and contribute their talents to help create the next big startup and to hopefully win the ultimate cash prize of $5,000 that will be awarded on Sunday.
The night began with a quick Icebreaker to get the creative thoughts going and was led by Startup Weekend Veteran Donald DeSantis. Startup Weekend participants were split up into groups and were given a noun and adjective and asked to create a fictional company with their given words. (Best combination: “Awesome Dolphin.”) Participants were asked to then pitch their company to the group in 30 seconds. Needless to say the ideas were wild and this icebreaker set the tone for a great creative environment this weekend.
After some great eats that were provided by Buffalo Wild Wings of Ferndale, each person was given the opportunity to pitch his or her unique idea to the group within a 2-minute time frame. In total there were 29 distinct startup pitches that were given. Project concepts ranged from ideas to help you track your lost junk (“Where’s My Junk!?”) to an app that would help those who find themselves bored and home alone on a Friday night (“Boredom Bot”). These ideas were narrowed down to 10 after a peer vote with the following surviving ideas:
1. “Where’s My Junk” App – Lost and found application designed to help you never loose your junk again.
2. “Awesome Weekend dot com” – Location based site to help families plan a “staycation.”
3. “Answer Company” – Buyer/seller intelligence site for eBay and auction services that would tell you how much an item was worth.”
4. “Retail consulting firm” – A consulting firm dedicated to bringing retailers to Detroit.
5. “Tower Defense” app – A project that focuses on taking that popular “tower defense game” idea and making it more realistic.
6. “Biometic security” – Biometric security device that would tie thumbprints and other data to purchases
7. “Boredom Bot” – Search social networks when you’re board and find other friends that are bored… hopefully curing your boredom.
8. “SMS Tween” app – Combines rewarded-based social networks (Foursquare) and texting.
9. “Never eat alone” – App to help find others to eat with and build relationships.
10. “Piggy Car” – Location-based application that helps users find local people to carpool with to and from work.
After choosing these ten pitches, teams were formed with people from varying specialties. Teams will work throughout the weekend developing their ideas. Like proud parents they will help nurture and build these potential start-ups throughout the next two days
With so many creative people in one space the energy is contagious. Hopefully, that energy will help propel and fuel these teams through the rest of the grueling hard work ahead of them. While the identities of the “Chosen Ten” tonight may change come judgment day on Sunday, one thing is for sure: many great things are taking place; which can amount to something great for the city of Detroit.
Stay tuned throughout the weekend for more details on the teams, team members and their developing ideas.
